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'It could determine the result before Liverpool step on the pitch,' says ex-Red

Former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann has been speaking about the roar of the Anfield crowd and what that means for the opposition.

On Sunday afternoon Liverpool face Manchester City in their biggest match of the season.

A win for the Reds may not secure the Premier League title outright, but it would go a very long way to doing so. And given the star-names and young players currently on the books at the club, a title win could be the catalyst to propel Brendan Rodgers’ side back to the summit of English football for more than just a single season.

City may have the recent experience of both succesful and failed title chases, along with the games-in-hand that could make all the difference come mid-May, but Liverpool have something that could yet sway the balance at least when it comes to Sunday’s match.

Speaking to the club’s official website, former Red Dietmar Hamann revealed the power of the Anfield faithful is not something to underestimate.

“The Anfield crowd is a huge factor for Liverpool,” the German said. “I think in the past games have been won in the tunnel when the opposition hears, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

“Even though Manchester City are a very experienced side, some of their players will not have experienced an atmosphere like the one they are going to face on Sunday.”

Rodgers has also gone on record to cite the importance of Liverpool’s 12th man, but only time will tell if it proves decisive when Manuel Pellegrini’s side comes to town.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.